WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Wednesday was set to provide Russia a written response that rejects most of its demands over Ukraine, as the Kremlin signaled that such a rebuff is certain to escalate the crisis.
With global tensions raging over a possible Russian invasion of the pro-West former Soviet republic, the Biden administration’s expected actions and Moscow’s reaction appeared to dampen hopes that diplomats could find a peaceful resolution to the standoff.
“If the West continues its aggressive course, Moscow will take the necessary retaliatory measures,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters ahead of an expected announcement by U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken confirming that the U.S. response has been transmitted to President Vladimir Putin‘s government.
